Comparative biology, anatomy, physiology and general nutrition

• pregastric fermentors • microbial fermentation in the foregut • cattle, sheep, goat • hindgut fermentors • fermentation takes place after the small intestine • cecal fermetation: rabbits and guinea-pigs; omnivores: rats and mice • colon fermentation: horses

• Species that eat a special portion of their faeces • cecal fermentation –> nutrients cannot be taken up in the caecum • e.g. rabbits

• pelleted • expanded • moist • powdered • wet powdered

• species • sex • health status • climate • genetic background • physiological condition • growth, maintenance, ageing • reprodcution, lactation

• increased cancer rate • reduced survival time • increased kidney degenerative disease

• monotremes (laying eggs; platypus) • marsupials • give birth to small, immature young that further develops inside the mother’s external pouch • kangaroo, koala • placental mammals: • babies develop inside the mother’s body

• well characterised • many mutant stocks • hardy, adaptable, easy to care for and inexpensive, and small size • short generation time and high reproductive capacity • germ-free and specific pathogen free production • large databases available

• their small size • sample large volumes is difficult • surgery • monitoring; blood pressure, oxygenation… • don’t like to swim

• their small size • sample large volumes is difficult • surgery • monitoring; blood pressure, oxygenation… • few genetic modified strains

• vitamin C deficiency • allergy research • auditory studies • susceptible for tuberculosis

• antibiotic sensitive • few inbred strains • lack of tail vein • relative high susceptilibity for infections

• studies of immune response • antibody production • eye research • bone formation • placental barrier similar to humans; extremely susceptible to both embryo toxic and terotgenic agents

• regeneration of limbs • embryological studies • education; neurons • sodium channels using eggs